Safety connecting rod for switch stands



May 19 1936- J.- B. STRONG 2,041,382

SAFETY CONNECTING ROD FOR SWITCH STANDS Filed Aug. 8, 1932 '2,5 ze 25 T INVENTOR 55 T James L'/rwggf Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY CONNECTING ROD FOR SWITCH STANDS James B. Strong,

Ramapo Ajax Corporation, New York,

New York, N. Y., assignor to N. Y., a

12 Claims.

The invention relates to railroad track equipment, and more particularly to mechanism for operating a railroad switch.

According to the invention yieldable safety means is provided between the switch and the operating mechanism therefor, such as a. switch stand, to prevent the setting up of forces which may break the equipment. The amount of yield is preferably limited so that the switch stand cannot be locked with the switch points blocked open in unsafe position. Normally the resilient safety means is not operated substantially by ordinary operation of the switch. The yieldable safety means may be placed on the connecting rod connecting the switch stand and switch, and preferably forms part of the clevis.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

, Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself,Y as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be rbetter understood by referring to the following description taken in connectionl with the accompanying drawing forming a. part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan viewshowing a switch and switch stand with the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the clevis with the safety means applied thereto according to the invention, this section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the spring washers; and

Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section of the modied form of clevis.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. -Y

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure oi the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modiedin various respects without departure fromthe broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, one of the switch points forming part of the railroad switch is denoted by I3 and is shown cooperating with the stock rail I9. These members rest upon the usual ties indi- 5 cated by I| and I2. The rod or cross member connecting the switch points is indicated by I4.

For operating the switch, a switch stand I5 is provided. This stand may be of any desired construction but the invention is applicable especial- 10 ly to switch stands of the rigid type, i. e. having no resilient mechanism between the operating handle I6 and the operating arm 2|) which is connected to the switch points by the connecting rod I'I. l5

As an example of a switch stand of the rigid hand throw type with which this invention may. be employed, reference is made to the switch stand disclosed in Perdue Patent No. 1,526,561, patented February 17, 1926. In the switch stand of that type which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the operating mechanism is contained within a casing 22, such mechanism being operated by the handle I6 to` move the operating arm 2|). The casing 22 has a suitable base 25 2| secured to the railroad ties by means of spikes in the usual manner. A target or fiag |22 may be provided to indicate the position of the switch. If desired, latches may be provided for locking the handle I6 in either one or both positions, one such latch being shown for purposes of illustration adapted to lock the handle I6 with the switch in main line position. It will be understood that the switch itself may be of any construction well known in the art. 35

The connecting rod has a fork 24 at one end connected to the switch member I4 by a pin 23.

At the other end a clevis 25 is connected to the operating arm 20 by a pivot bolt 39. Although the connecting rod I1 is shown with the clevis 40 adjacent the switch stand, it will be understood that the clevis may be placed at the switch end if it should be found desirable or necessary.

The clevis in which the safety apparatus is incorporated, as more particularly shown in Figs. 2-5, comprises a body 26 having side walls 2l and 28 providing a pocket |21 open at its opposite sides. The body 26 also has end walls 30 and 3| provided with recesses 32 and 33 and openings |32 and |33 respectively through which the 50 threaded end II'I of the connecting rod loosely passes.

Seated in the recesses 32 and 33 are steel spring washers 34 and 35. Nuts 36 and 31, threaded on threaded end I Il, of the connecting rod hold the 55 spring washers 34 and 35 in their seats. Lugs, indicated by 29 may be provided on side walls 21 and 28 to engage one of the nuts 36. The close iitting lugs 29 and side walls 2'! and 28 preferably act to center the threaded end I Il so that it does not contact the sides of the holes |32 and |33.

The spring washers 34 and 35 may be similar in construction to the ordinary spring lock washer, and may be made of a single turn of heavy spring steel, as shown particularly in Fig. 5.

The clevis is provided with ears 38 disposed on opposite sides of the operating arm 2t through which the pivot bolt 39 passes.

A modiiied form of clevis is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which spring washers are replaced by washers 40 and`4| of yieldable material, such as composition rubber. In this case it is desirable to place either cupped or, as shown, at, metal washers 42 between the nuts and the resilient Washers. The washers 42 preferably are of suiiciently large area to prevent the yieldable material of the washers and 4i from spreading sidewise. It is desirable to allow plenty of clearance between the washers and the threaded end I Il and the walls of the clevis to allow room for the washer to expand under compression. The construction of this modification is otherwise the same as the form above described.

To assemble the connecting rod I1 and clevis 25, the washer 34 and nut 3S are rst put in place and the threaded end H1 is threaded into this nut. The washer 34 is then compressed to a certain extent and the nut 3l and washer 35 are then put in position and the threaded end H1 further screwed into the nut 3i, the end of the rod coming out of the neck of the clevis between the ears 38, as illustrated. It is desirable to have the spring washers 34 and 35 under some initial compression.

To operate the switch, the handle I6 is thrown in the usual manner, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. It is desirable that the spring washers be of sufficient strength so that they cannot be readily compressed appreciably through the ordinary hand operation of the switch. These spring washers should be of sufficient strength so that they cannot be flattened out by any stress to which they may be subjected in actual service.

With rigid type switch stands having no yieldable devices built in the switch stand itself, there is a tendency to adjust the throw so that locking of the switch stand puts considerable stress on the connecting rod. This stress is increased considerably under the vibration of trains going over the switch and is liable to result in fatigue of the metal in some parts of the switch stand or connections which will result in failure. It is obvious that these failures are very dangerous since they may cause wrecks. If cracks of a progressive type are started, these being hard to detect, the weakened member is liable to fail under heavy traic, allowing the switch points to become loose, causing derailments.

According to the invention, the resilient connection allows these shocks to be absorbed in the spring washers without placing suicient stress on the operating parts to over-strain the metal, and at the same time the yieldable movement is limited to a small amount so that it is not possible to lock the switch stand with the switch point blocked open to a dangerous extent. It is generally accepted that a switch point is in a dangerous position for facing traffic when in closed position it stands away from its stock rail more than one-eighth of an inch.

The operation, assembly and advantages of the form shown in Fig. 6 will be obvious from the description given thereof.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In railroad track apparatus, a switch stand of the rigid hand throw type having an operating handle and an operating arm with positive powertransmitting mechanism therebetween, a track switch, a connecting rod connecting said arm and switch, said connecting rod having a clevis, said clevis having a safety device incorporated therein, said safety device having a limited range of movement to prevent locking of the switch stand with the switch blocked open, said device being of such resistance to compressional stress as to prevent the setting-up of breaking stresses in said apparatus.

2. In railroad track apparatus, a switch stand having an operating handle and an operating arm with powertransmitting mechanism therebetween, a track switch, a connecting rod connecting said arm and switch, said connecting rod having a safety device incorporated therein, said device having a limited range of movement to prevent locking of the switch stand with the switch blocked open, said device being of such resistance to compressional stress as to prevent the setting- 5i up of breaking stresses in said apparatus.

3. In railroad track apparatus, a switch stand of the rigid hand throw type comprising an operating handle and an operating arm with positive power. transfer mechanism therebetween, a switch, means for operating said switch by said switch stand, means between said operating arm and said switch for limiting the stress on the parts of said apparatus to a predetermined safe value, said means also preventing locking of the switch stand with the switch blocked in unsafe open position.

4. In a safety connecting rod for operating a railroad track point, a rod member having a threaded end, a clevis comprising opposite side walls connected to opposite end walls forming a pocket open on opposite sides, said end walls having holes, said threaded end passing loosely through both said holes and through said pocket, nuts threaded on said threaded end and disposed in said pocket, said end walls having depressed seats, spring washers seated in said seats and disposed against their respective nuts, said side Walls tting said nuts and preventing them turning relative thereto, said side walls also having lugs engaging one of said nuts to center said rod in said holes.

5. In a safety device for operating a railroad track point, a member having a threaded end, a body comprising opposite side walls connected to opposite end walls forming an open pocket, said end walls having holes, said threaded end passing loosely through both said holes and through said pocket, nuts threaded on said threaded end and disposed in said pocket, said end walls having seats, spring washers seated in said seats and disposed against their respective nuts, and means for preventing said nuts from turning relative to said body.

6. In railroad track apparatus, a switch, an

operating device for throwing the switch, a safety device between said switch and operating device and comprising opposed members holding a yieldable washer therebetween, said washer being suiiiciently firm that the maximum yield of the washer under any conditions of service is less than the maximum allowable safe gap in the switch when closed, said washer being suiiciently yieldable to prevent the setting up of breaking strains in the apparatus.

7. In railroad track apparatus, a switch, an operating device for throwing the switch, a safety device between said switch and operating device and comprising opposed members holding a composition washer therebetween, said washer being sufliciently firm that the maximum yield of the washer under any conditions of service is less than the maximum allowable safe gap in the switch when closed, said washer being sufciently yieldable to prevent the setting up of breaking strains in the apparatus, and means for substantially totally enclosing said washer to prevent spreading thereof under compression.

8. In railroad track apparatus, a switch, an operating device for throwing the switch, a safety device between said switch and operating device and comprising opposed members holding a spring metal split washer therebetween, said washer being sufficiently stiff that the maximum yield of the washer under any conditions of service is less than the maximum allowable safe gap in the switch when closed, said washer being suiiciently yieldable to prevent the setting up of breaking strains in the apparatus.

9. In a safety device for operating a railroad track switch, iirst and second relatively movable members, said first member having two abutments, said second member having cooperating abutments between said rst abutments and forming therewith sets of abutments, a yieldable member between each set, one abutment of each set having a recess for the yieldable member, said yieldable members having a maximum yield of no more than the allowable safe gap between the switch point and stock rail when the switch is closed.

10. In a safety device for operating a railroad track switch, rst and second relatively movable members, said rst member having two abutments, said second member having cooperating abutments between said first abutments and form- 10 ing sets of abutments, and a yieldable washer between each set, said'yieldable washers having a maximum yield of no more than one-eighth of an inch.

11. In a safety device for operating a railroad 15 track switch, rst and second relatively movable members, said first member having two abutments, said second member having cooperating abutments between said first abutments and forming therewith sets of abutments, a heavy spring metal split washer between each set, one abut-v ment of each set having a recess for the washer, said washer being suiiciently stiif that the maximum yield of the washer under any conditions of service is less than the maximum allowable safe 25 gap in the switch when closed, said washer being sufliciently yieldable to prevent the setting up of breaking strains in the apparatus.

l2. In railway apparatus, a stationary track member, a movable track member cooperating 30 therewith to permit wheel iianges to pass across said members or between them, a rigid operating device, connecting mechanism between said oper-' ating device and said movable member comprising yieldable means to prevent unsafe strains from being set up on the parts of the apparatus, said means also preventing the locking of said operating device with the movable member in improper open position.

JAlVlES B. STRONG. 40 

